PORTLAND, Maine — High gasoline prices are expected to curtail traffic volumes on the Maine Turnpike this Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Southern Maine is predicting that 292,000 vehicles will pass through the York toll plaza at the southern end of the turnpike from Friday through Monday. That’s down about 6 percent from the same weekend last year.

Even though the traffic count is expected to go down, the traffic will still be heavy at times on the southern end of the turnpike. Turnpike officials say the heaviest volumes will be between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday going north, and from noon to 7 p.m. Monday going south.